Our Team

Mariam Sentews, Staffing AssociateMariam is passionate about her studies in Philosophy and how it interconnects all aspects of awareness and human connection. She has over 10 years of management and leadership experience, and truly thrives in environments where connecting with people is the foundation of her work. As a staffing associate, Mariam is passionate about creating trust with each of her candidates and bringing them to a space they can prosper. In her spare time, she loves anything creative and enjoying nature with her Doberman and close friends.

Mike Bongay, RecruiterMike is an avid athlete and has been coaching youth sports since he was 14 years old. As a Recruiter, Mike is excited to blend his research and interpersonal skills with his natural abilities to coach and build relationships. Mike was a four year professional volleyball player and continues to coach at the high school and club levels. In his free time, Mike enjoys cooking, traveling, live music and spending time with his two young children.

Tim Bataska, Business Development Manager
Tim is a CSU, East Bay graduate with a degree in Kinesiology. As a Business Development Manager, Tim introduces companies to Collegial Services, develops and maintains relationships with them, and assists them in acquiring and maintaining highly talented individuals. Outside of work, Tim coaches boys and girls basketball for prominent AAU programs. He also enjoys exercising, a good cup of coffee, and competing at anything he can.

Alyssa Samia, Recruiting AssociateAlyssa graduated with a degree in Organizational Studies from Arizona State University. While she was a student, Alyssa was promoted to Store Manager at Starbucks and discovered an affinity for staffing and professional development. As a Recruiting Associate, Alyssa is excited to spend everyday listening to new stories from candidates and connecting them with the right career opportunity. When she’s not at work, she is growing habanero peppers and testing out different hot sauce recipes.

Khris Sanchez, RecruiterKhris graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance, specializing in opera. As an artist, Khris found ways to connect with people through music. Outside the music realm, Khris is beyond ecstatic to build strong relationships as a recruiter with candidates who are passionate and eager to find the right career opportunity. When he’s not at work, Khris enjoys composing music, performing with his R&B/soul group, Soul Purpose and photography.

Najet Carrick, Manager, Staffing and Advising ServicesNajet graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences. Her professional experience includes project management in the telecommunications and banking industries. Najet joined Collegial Services in 2012; she is currently a Staffing and Advising Manager and is a LinkedIn Certified Professional Recruiter. Najet is married with three children and enjoys spending time with her family.

Val Calisto, Operations AssociateVal graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. As a Operations Associate, Val is excited to support the advising, staffing and business development teams, as well as manage all front office responsibilities. Outside of work, Val likes to travel, is teaching herself to cook and loves to go on long walks with her boyfriend and their dog.

Florence “Flo” Labrador, InternFlo is currently a senior at California High School in San Ramon. As Collegial Services’s Social Media and Market Research Intern, Flo assists with our company’s branding by conducting market research and helping to develop and facilitate our social media outreach. In addition to her internship, Flo is actively involved on campus as a four-year leadership student and varsity volleyball player. She also enjoys singing and hanging out with her friends.

Mary McHale, Senior Career AdvisorMary brings a unique blend of experience from both the corporate and higher education arenas, having been a consultant, strategist, facilitator, coach, and administrator across industries for 10 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and a Masters of Education from the University of Vermont in Higher Education Administration. As a Senior Career Advisor, Mary enjoys helping clients explore their career goals and discover the path towards their future career.

Neelam Ahuja, Advising Services ManagerNeelam is a Senior Career Advisor with more than 10 years directing recruiting and sales efforts for PwC and Randstad. She joined Collegial Services in 2011 to support job seekers as they launch their careers. Neelam brings her corporate experience, proven coaching techniques and “get it done” tactics to her clients. Outside of work, Neelam is a very busy mom of three and our resident “Martha Stewart.”

Madeline Kirbach-Liddicoat, ConsultantMadeline is a business leader and strategist with expertise in launching and managing new intiatives. With a B.A. from Stanford and a MBA from Harvard, she is no stranger to the value of leveraging a great education for a successful career launch. Starting as an intern at Microsoft, Madeline built a marketing career within organizations like Saatchi & Saatchi and Microsoft, and later ran her own firm before collaborating with Collegial Services in 2010.

Jackson, Canine AmbassadorWhat can we say about the furriest member of the Collegial Services team? Jackson is a dog who primarily loves to follow our Founder, Robin, from room to room. When he is not performing his entourage duties, he keeps the carpet under the desk warm and occasionally greets those visiting our office. If he could talk, he would tell everyone about the importance of a flawless resume and learning to network.